Miami 66, Valparaiso 50: Rion Brown scored a season-high 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and the Hurricanes held off the visiting Crusaders in the first round of the NIT.

Reggie Johnson had nine points and 11 rebounds and Shane Larkin scored 12 points for Miami (20-12), which will host Minnesota in the second round at a time and date to be determined.

The Hurricanes pushed their lead to as much as 13 points with a 16-5 run in the second half, but Valparaiso would not go away. The Crusaders climbed within three points, but could not get closer.

Miami scored the game’s last 12 points.

Ryan Broekhoff had 18 points and Richie Edwards added 16 for Valparaiso (22-12), the Horizon League regular season champion.

Miami was 10 for 22 from 3-point range; Valparaiso 5 for 27.

Miami led by as many seven points early, but Valparaiso fought back to within 24-23 at halftime. Broekhoff had 10 points and seven rebounds for the Crusaders, who made two of their first 11 shots from the field.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Miami’s leading scorer Durand Scott served the second of a six-game suspension for receiving impermissible benefits. … Valparaiso’s Jay Harris and Matt Kenney, who average a combined for 16.3 points off the bench, both missed the game with the flu. …Miami is 14-3 at home this season and 4-0 in home NIT games.